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Cooling Towel Buyer's Guide

Modified on: Mon, 25 Apr, 2016 at 9:50 AM

The Warming Store's Cooling Towel Guide

Welcome to the Buyer's Guide for our large selection of cooling towels. We realize that cooling towels may be a new product to many of our customers so we hope this guide will help to find the correct product for your needs. We realize that this guide is called cooling "towels" but our customers often include cooling neck wraps and bandanas in the same category so this guide will include details them as well. Let's start with a list of the different materials commonly used in cooling products:

PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) is a material used in many of the cooling products. This material is super absorbant, which means that it will retain water for a long period of time and thus provide cooling for much longer than standard fabrics. What's even better about PVA is that it is often dry to the touch. As long as the material isn't completely saturated with water, you can wrap it around your neck without getting soaked! PVA towels are great options for activities where you will be exposed to the heat for an extended period of time. If the PVA towel starts to get warm or dry out, you can simply wet it, wring it out, and wave it in the air like a helicopter to re-activate the cooling properties.

Microfiber cooling products such as cooling towels, cooling neck bands, and cooling bandanas utilize some of the same concepts as the PVA towels above. The microfiber design uses specialized fabrics that retain water much better than standard towels/rags. The microfiber is also very soft to the touch which makes them popular solutions for athletes. The microfiber cooling towels do not become rigid/stiff when they dry out like the PVA towels so some people prefer them simply due to this fact. However, the microfiber cooling towels generally do not provide the same duration of cooling as the PVA towels. Microfiber is still a great option, and they can be easily reactivated by dipping in cool water.

Some cooling products contain cooling gel beads. These are common in cooling neck ties and cooling bandanas. The gel beads are very small but they increase up to 100 times their original size when they become wet. There are dozens of the gel beads in this type of cooling product, and the beads act together to create a large gel layer that feels great around your head or neck. This gel pad feels much cooler than the surrounding air and provides long lasting cool. Many of these products are 30-40 inches in length which give the user enough room to tie them in place. Common applications for the cooling gel products are construction, yard work, or basically any activity where the user will be outside for an extended period of time. The main drawback to this type of cooling product is that the gel pads can become a bit slimy after repeated use.

Since both PVA and Microfiber cooling products are very popular for their individual reasons, some manufacturers have begun to create hybrid products to provide the best of both worlds! The hybrids often contain a strip of PVA material in addition to either a microfiber or standard cotton. The PVA portion provides the super-absorbant capability and long lasting cool. The microfiber gives the soft feel that so many consumers enjoy. When added together, you get an ultra-soft comfortable product that retains water for long periods providing long-lasting cooling!

For the absolute best cooling, we carry some cooling wraps with removable ice pack inserts. These products are generally comprised of a soft cotton fabric with an internal pocket that holds the removable ice packs. The ice bands provide extreme cooling and make great options for post-workout, muscle treatment, or for a quick cool down on the job site. The ice packs need to be frozen, so access to a freezer is a necessity for these products.

Hopefully this cooling buyer's guide has been helpful. If you still have questions or need more information, please contact us via email at support@thewarmingstore.com or give us a call at 888-406-1984. Our warming and cooling experts are always happy to assist in your buying decisions!